NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10296, 30 May 1899, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS

[per press association.] I • Wellington, May 29. The criminal calender for next week contains 18 cases against 13 persons. It is much lighter than of late. Work at the new Parliament Buildings is being rapidly pushed on rapidly in view of the opening of Parliament towards the end of next month. Though appearances don't point to it, the contractors are confident that they will have the building ready in time for the legislators. In the Bankruptcy Court to-day Justice Edwards refused a discharge in the case of Alfred Croasey, publican, and said that he should come up again in 12 1 mouths. His Honor said he always made it a rule never to grant a discharge where it was admitted that something like a reasouable account of transactions had not been kept. Neither the Court nor the assignee expected a scientific record, but some sort of record must be kept. Under the Offensive Publications Act William Grace, manager of Basmussen's, local herbalist, the 1 agent was fined L 3 and costs for issuing a pamphlet treating of certain diseases. The defence was that the book contained nothing morbid or i sensational, and merely consisted of di- , rections as to the application of the medicines. The S M said that people who , had secret remedies must sell them under the same conditious as medical men and chemists and not try to induce people to purchase by publications such as these. It was not, however, of a very flagrant r kind and he would nob impose the full penalty. Mr J A Lowe, chief engineer of workl"" 'ing railways, will shortly resign for the t purpose of engaging in mission work in [ India. A comprehensive scheme put forth by • the Mayor for city improvement, which ' embraces an additional water supply, I city control of the tramways and electric lighting, the erection of a town hall, pub- | lie baths, etc, was imder discussion bej fore the city council to night, but was . adjourned till Thursday. Dcjnedin, May 29. Good progress was made in getting through the criminal calendar at the Supreme Court. True bills were found in all cases. Samuel Schotham, who pleaded guilty to honsebreaking, was admitted to probation; Accused entered a house and telling the woman was in that 3 ha was a corporation officer about to turn I off the water, and that she had better i lay in a stock, walked away with her \ jewellery while she was engaged. J P * Casey, an old. offender, was convicted of ' housebreaking and larceny from a man who had given him food and shelter, and was sentenced to two years, Justice Williams describing the crime as a particu-' larly mean one. Mrs Stewart, relict of the. late Dr Stewart, and one of the most respected residents of Lawrence, was found drowned in a water hole Sunday, She told her daughter that she would step over wibh the paper to a neighbor. Not i returning, search was made, and the > body found in the waterhole between 5 the two residences. How she fell in is a 3 mystery. She had not been in good * health of late. 5 Christchurch, May 29. A fire broke out at 8 last night in Johnson and Couzen's, sailmakers, in • Cashel street. The premises were gutted, and half the stock destroyed. Bain's fancy shop next door was damaged by water. The insurances are — LIOOO in the Commercial Union, LIOOO - in the Royal Exchange a\id LSTO in other offices. There is no clue to the origin. i At the Supreme Court to-day T Munro ■ was sentenced to six months imprison- , menb for forging a receipt for water rates ; ■ Alfred Nelson to three months' for the ■ theft of a bicycle ; James Candlish to I two years for breaking into premises and , stealing goods ; W Galland to three 1 months for theft of a bicycle ; H Balm to

three years for breaking into a dwelling and stealing goods and money to the value of LlB ; W H Williams to three years' imprisonment for setting fire to houses '. Stewart Fletcher, a person under probation, was sentenced to three months for having broken the good conditions under which he had been discharged. He had been convicted in the lower court on a charge of stealing bottles ; C G Cheyne was sentenced to six months on a charge of having committed perjury while giving evidence in a stealing case at the last criminal sessions of the Supreme Court. Percy E Whittall was sentenceed to six months on a charge of having obtained a bicycle by means of a valueless cheque. ] The prisoner is already undergoing a sentence of six months for a similar offence,at Wellington. The hearing of a charge of manslaughter against B H Carter arising out of the Rakaia railway accident will be taken on Wednesday. In the course of his charge to the Grand Jury Justice Denriisfcon remarked on the necessity for a re-arrangement of the Supreme Court system, and suggested that evidence should bo taken down in shorthand. The Grand Jury, having finished their work, returned a presentment approving of the suggestion of the Judge and stating that if the judges were relieved of the considerable amount of clerical work in taking down the evidence the alteration would be an advantage to suitors and all concerned. Woodville, May 29. Owing to the prevalenceof diphtheria in the district the schools have been closed for a fortnight. Several cases, including a fatal one, are reported. Oamaru, May 29. Thomas Scotb, widower, a wharf laborer, was run over and killed while loading the Taupo this morning. Auckland, May 29. The Tutanekai awaits orders, probably to proceed to Samoa with despatches from the British Government. : H M Milduya, from Tauranga for Lyttelton, goes into dock The Stella arrived this morning at Hokianga and was proceeding at noon in company with the tug Sterling, in search of the Perthshire. The Victorian Commissioners, Best and Trenwith, left by the Westralia for Sydney. A London cablegram states that R C Garlick, gum merchant, Auckland, died suddenly. He leaves a widow and ten children, The flags were half-mast yesterday for the Ohau disaster. ■